Harness stop motion



July 5, 11949.

H. LAPLANTE HARNESS STOP MOTION l Fild om. '7, 1947 IN VEN TOR.

` Y ATTORNEYS seen and render the device inoperable.

, tric circuit of the loom stop motion.

Patented July 5, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in harness stop motion.

Electrical stop motions have been heretofore proposed `which are adapted to be operated by an abnormal condition in harness frame connec- 5 tions, such as by a break therein, or when a substantial slack in the connections is had. Such prior construction has been presented in the horizontal connection of the harness connectors. In these prior constructions, spaced electric contacts are positioned beneath the loom to be engaged and bridged by the dropping of a bottom wire harness connector thereon due to a failure in the harness connections. The contacts are part of an electric circuit of a usual stop motion of a loom. The bridging of the contacts closes the circuit to actuate the stop motion. One of the disadvantagesof such stop motion devices is that lint will fall thereon and soon pack on the contacts to such an extent as to prevent proper engagement thereof and render the device inoperable. Another disadvantage is that the device is not readily acc-essible at such a location as well as restricting the space which the loom iixer may require to occupy when repairing some particular element of the loom. It `frequently happens in such instances that the loom xer will disarrange some portion of the device by unintentional contact therewith, which may remain un- `An object of this invention isthe provision of a stop motion wherein the electric contacts` may be `positioned to bepengaged by the vertical end wires of the harness connectors to close the elec- Another object of the invention is the provision for controlling the electric circuit of the loom stop` motion device at a location readily accept-l able.

*of a stop motion device `which can be manufac- ".tured at a comparatively low cost of production,

and which will be durable and satisfactory in use. With these and otherobjects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particu- `larly pointed `out in the appended claims.

. In the accompanying drawings:

"Figure l -is a front elevation showing those "parts of a loom only which are necessary to understand the invention,"and with certain parts 5,5

of the loom stop motion shown diagrammatically;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a fragmental portion of the side frame with contacts attached thereto which form part of one embodiment of th-e invention;

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially along line 3, 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective View illustrating diagrammatically part of a loom warp stop motion device; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of th-e electric contacts shown in Figure 2.

In carrying out one embodiment of my invention, I provide an electrical contact in the form of a Wire loop through which the end wires of the harness connection extend. The sides of the loop are spaced from each other a distance sufcient to prevent engagement of the end wire therewith in the normal operation thereof. However, should an abnormal condition in the harness connection occur, such as by an undue slackening of the connection or a breakage therein, then the end wires will be displaced from their normally generally vertical position sucient to engage the electr-ic contact and close the electric circuit of a usual stop motion device provided on the loom.

In the usual stop motion provided on a loom, one branch of the electric circuit usually includes the loom structure, which places the end wire in the electric circuit through its connection with the harness jack of the shedding mechanism of the loom. Should this branch of the electric circuit be broken, such as by a break in the connection between the end wires and the harness jack, a second contact in electrical engagement with the loom is provided at a position to be engaged by the end wires, and thereby position the same in the electric circuit of the stop motion. By this arrangement the control of the electric circuit is assured regardless as to where the failure of the harness connection may take place.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of the invention, Il) designates one of a plurality of a conventional type harness frame for mounting the heddles II which support the warp in the process of Weaving. The harness frame comprises upper and lower rails I2 and I3 which are secured to each other at their end portions by uprights I4. The harness frame is suspended in position by flexible straps I5 and IB which are attached to the upper rail I2 by spaced hooks I1. These straps pass over guide sheeves I8, I8 which are usually fastened for free rotation to the arch of the loom (not shown) and are attached by means of wire connectors I9 and 2|] to the vertical arm of a lever 2|. The lever 2l is pivotally mounted for rocking motion about a shaft 22 and is part of the shedding mechanism of the loom.

The lever 2l or so-called harness jack., has a lower substantially horizontal arm 23, and has a wire connector 24 attached thereto. This wire connector extends generally vertically adjacent the sidelf25 oflfthe.loomirarneyand tgheflowerend of the-connector ishooked to a'lexiblerstrap 26. The strap 26 passes beneath guide sheeve 21 and extends horizontally, having connections withaa wire connector 28. The connector .2B extends horizontally and is hooked at the other end-there-l of to a strap 29 which passes under aguideisheeve.

36 and then upwardly, having connections with a yoke or bowed wire connectorL 3|. 'This'yoke depends from and is secured to the lower rail .I3 by means of hook eyes 32. This completes the .connection between a harness frame and a harness jack 2|. of the warp vshedding*mechanism. When the harnessjack 2|is rocked zabout'the .-..shaft`j22`, the harness frame I0 will be raised and lowered to form the'shed.' The loomis provided .with a multiplemof motion.just described'jthere being a plurality 'of harness frames.each;of which is provided with its own connection and harness j ack.. The connectors 24..Jare usually vreferred to as'the end wires; while the connectors'28 are reu yferredY to as .the bottom wires.

The loom is alsoproyided with an electrically operated warpstop. motion' which is illustrated ,ediagramm'aticallyinlligures' land 4, and corn- ,..prises generally of.a rocking 1lever .33V which is p' f' pivotallymountedona rod.34 and has a control vrod 35..pivotally..mounted toitsllower end as .at ...35C Aso-calledtdagger is Aipivotally mounted Itothe uppenend of .the.lever..33 to belheldin a raised .or lowered,.poston by .an...arm'.3'1y andy a .connecting link ..38. The. armi "31 is operated .to raise ,thefdaggera -by,an electromagnet. (not shown) contained in. a .housing 39. l .When .the 44.daggertl is raised by.,energizing.the-electromagnet, ,it l.is .f positioned in'. the pattini movement fofA ...and `engaged by a bunter onthelaypr other moving part of the loom (not shown), to ,rocklthe ,.1ever..33.. Iherocki,r1g..motion .of.the lever, v133 is L.,transmitted through thel control-rod 435 ,toaotuate .,a. loom mechanism .Knot/shown),to...stop..and

bring ythe .loom toqrest. ..-E1,ectrical..currenttmay be. .supplied to .2the,...electromagnet..such` .as by means of.. an-y electric. circuit including line wires L,I transformer T., Aa .conductor `j40 to the electror...magnet and. a. conductor .4| y,to -somepart .of the l., loom structure, .suchwasitheside frame 25-.to pro- .videior a returnbranch totheV transformer.

The, harness straps.y and.` .Wire connectors form a,.closed v,loop andjare `maintained taut. .to posivtively.control .the..movement .and positionofA the harness frame.. as the harness .j ack ...is rocked. Should the harness. .connections become` .unduly .slack P.or .broken, the. harness. frame, Will `drop or `become misplaced. soLthat. it...oannot.properly shift .the Warp'sto-form the; shed.

Inprder to. provide orstoppingtheloom upon harness. connection failure, asv above ..state.d, I .E mount an .electrical uContact.generally.'.designated .j3to, the side. 25..of.the loom at, allocation-,inter- ,mediatethe .endsy .ofthe-wire connector 24. ...The contact; .L43 is. in thepresent, embodiment., of Lthe invention .made`.in .the..form of. awire. loop 44, 1seeEigure 5. This. wire loop -may be conveniently made by bending alengthof wireintermediate the .ends .thereof in. a .manner Inform a. closed loop 45 with one Wire length 46 extending in one direction, and the other wire length 41 extending in an opposite direction substantially in line with the length 46. The wire length 46 is bent 5 into substantially U shape providing a bridging portion 48 and an arm 49 extending therefrom. The wire length 41 is also bent back upon itself in substantially U shape, but inwardly of the arm 49 providing a portion 50 extending inwardly of lofr'theff arm etwa-substantiallytf parallels. thereto and @spaced therefrom with-.th'eE free@A end thereof extending to and secured to the bridge portion 48. .The free end portion of the arm 49 is bent inwardly so as to extend toward the portion 50 and 15 lhasithe'end extremity thereof form into a hook ....Yportion-. I..to detachably secure the arm 49 to the portion 50; thus providing a closed loop 52. The resiliency-ofthewire is such as to act in a direction .to bias the hook into engagement with the portion 50.

This electrical contact is secured in position to 'the si'def-25 'of"the= loom by'meansfof` abolt'or the like 53. The shank of the boltipasses" .through theloop 45and an,opening'"54 inlthe`side`25'with of the loop''45. 'Anut55 engages"the"threaded .portion 'of the bolt and clamps* the contact43iin position in.. aA usual' manner. This 'Contact 43is electricallyinsul'ated from "the'v loom' by an..insu 'latins bushing 56 encirclingthe'shank 'of the bolt ',and vby -insulating. Washers"'51,".'one ofp'which is positioned between the sidelof '.the.1oom.and' the edges of the loopt`45 '.and"the'.other of"which is positioned between "the, side 'offthe loom andthe nut55.v This contact 43 is placed in.the'electric circuit of thezloomwstop motionpby means lof an 'electrical conductor'58. extendingtfrom the bolt '53 .to theielectroinagnetof the 'stop motion.`i"1lhe end wire -24 is electrically conducting;and.throu`gh its connection With'the harness jack2| .is in the otherbranch 'offthe circuit, and forms another .electricalcontact rIhe .end Wir '24.is .positioned Lito. extendlthrougl'r .the loop 52 .bfl"the..contact 1.43 and is..nor1nally,.out..`of .contactrtherewitn ."The .loop is. m'adeof a sufcientlwidth .soas .tojprovde su'flicient space .to prevent accidental contacting of the end wire24 by anyvibration.'thereowhen "the loom is in. motion. Should any .of th. harness Jconnection become .unduly slackA or. break, the Wire 24.Wil1 slacken and bedisplaced fromlits 4 generalv vertical; position to. a..slant .sufficient to makecontact with the side `of the loop .5.2. thereby g closing the 'electrical circuit to"the.electromagn'et to. actuate .the warp vstop motion. ina manner above described to bring the loomlto rest.

. Should the. endV wire' .24 become.' detached. from its .connection at .theL harness` jack;lthe Ielectrioal connection of'theend wire would'thenlbe broken. In order to provide'L for such an emergency, .a contact designated. generally 58 islprovidedffhis contact. isV also in a.form of. a wire loopr 5,9,.best shown. in'Figure. 2 .and,is attachedto theside 25, such asjbyvmeansgoi a bolt. 2.6,.and-islelectrically connected, .thereto;j.'thus.'forming. .an .additional .Contact 58 .engageablefbylthe endwire` 24 so...as ,to provide l-an.-` .additionaLconnection' therefor ...to ,the .electric,..circ.uitof l ..the..stop l motion. .contact is. positioned. at.. a...-.location ,spacedf..and beneath the .contact 43 Aandthe end.wire v24m:- .70 .tends .therethrough .and -makes .engagement therewith upon .harness 1connection failure When the 1oom`-is..inmotion,.a,..certain amount ofvibration .sets inthe. contact '4.3. This vibration has"` been. ,oundsflicient' Yto,. pr.evenri.'liniiirom ...75..accumulating `to anymaterialldegree lonlthe lconthe head""of"1the bolt abutting zgagainst the edges ta-cts 43 and 58; thus assuring of a positive engagement between the end Wires and the contacts.

I have shown and described my invention in connection with electrically operated stop motion which is usually provided on most looms; however, other electrically operated loom stopping means may be provided, if desired.

I claim:

1. In a loom, a harness frame, normally taut vsuspension means for operating said frame, in-

cluding an electrical conducting connector, an electrically operated stop motion for said loom, an electric circuit for said stop motion, said connector being in the said circuit forming a rst contact, a second Contact in the said circuit spaced from the rst contact and encircling said connector and engageable by said connector to close said electric circuit to said stop motion, when said suspension means become slack or broken.

2. In a loom, a harness frame, normally taut suspension means for operating said frame including a vertically extending electrical conducting connector, an electrically operated stop motion for said loom, an electric circuit for said stop motion, said connector being in the said circuit forming a rst contact, a second contact in the said circuit spaced from the first contact and positioned adjacent the said connector and engageable by the vertically extending portion of said connector to close said electric circuit to said stop motion when said suspension means become slack or broken.

3. In a loom, a harness frame, normally taut suspension means for operating said frame including a vertically extending electrical conduct ing connector, an electrically operated stop motion for said loom, an electric circuit for said stop motion, said connector being in the said circuit forming a first contact, a second contact in the said circuit spaced from the rst contact and secured to the side of the loom adjacent said connector and engageable by said connector to close said electric :circuit to said stop motion when said suspension means become slack or broken.

4. In a loom as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second contact is in the form of a wire loop.

5, In a loom as set forth in claim 1 wherein said contact is in the form of a wire loop attached to the side of the loom and electrically insulated therefrom.

6. In a loom as set forth in claim 1, wherein an additional contact is provided comprising a wire loop secured to the loom frame and in said circuit, and through which the said connector passes.

7. In a loom having a loom frame and a harness frame, normally taut suspension means for operating said harness frame including an electrical conducting connector having at least a portion thereof extending generally vertically, an electrically operated stop motion for said loom, an electric circuit for said stop motion, said connector forming a contact in the said circuit and contact means in the said circuit spaced from the said contact and attached to a side of the loom frame adjacent the said connector and engageable by said portion of the connector to close the electric circuit of the stop motion to stop the loom when said suspension means becomes broken.

HORMIDAS LAPLANTE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,238,628 Bertrand Aug. 28, 1917 .1,584,457 Landry May 11, 1926 1,597,574 Boucher Aug. 24, 1926 2,348,824 Koskela May 16, 1944 2,409,766 Koskela Oct. 22, 1946 

